Configuring Oracle Hospitality Suite8 (Fidelio Suite 8) to Use MailChannels as an SMTP Smart Host

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to configure Oracle Hospitality Suite8 (formerly Fidelio Suite 8) to route outbound emails through MailChannels’ SMTP relay service, enhancing email deliverability and ensuring reliable guest communications.

Prerequisites

• Administrative Access: Ensure you have administrative access to the Suite8 server.

• MailChannels Account: Obtain SMTP credentials from MailChannels.

• Network Configuration: Allow outbound connections to MailChannels’ SMTP servers through your firewall.

Steps to Configure Suite8 Mail Server Settings

1. Access Fidelio Server Properties:

• Right-click the Fidelio Server icon in the system tray.

• Select PROPERTIES to open the Fidelio Server configuration window.

2. Navigate to Mail Server Setup:

• In the configuration window, select the MAIL SERVER tab.

• Click on SETUP to open the Mail Server Setup dialog.

3. Configure SMTP Settings:

• In the Mail Server Setup dialog, enter the following details:

• SMTP Server: smtp.mailchannels.net

• Port: 587 (for TLS) or 465 (for SSL)

• Username: Your MailChannels-provided SMTP username

• Password: Your MailChannels-provided SMTP password

• Enable the SSL option to use secure socket layer communication when sending emails.

4. Save and Apply Settings:

• Click OK to save the Mail Server settings.

• Click CLOSE to exit the Fidelio Server configuration window.

Verifying the Configuration

To ensure that Suite8 is correctly routing emails through MailChannels:

• Test Email Delivery: Send a test email from Suite8 to verify successful delivery.

• Check Logs: Review the fideliosmtplog.txt file located in the Suite8 log directory for any errors or status messages related to email sending.

Additional Considerations

• SPF Configuration: Set up Sender Policy Framework (SPF) records in your domain’s DNS settings to authorize MailChannels to send emails on behalf of your domain. This improves email deliverability and reduces the risk of spoofing. For detailed instructions, refer to MailChannels’ guide on Setting up SPF Records.

• DKIM Implementation: Implement DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) by adding a DKIM signature to your emails. This adds an additional layer of authentication, ensuring the integrity of your messages. For more information, see Adding a DKIM Signature.

• DMARC Policy: Establish a Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) policy to instruct email receivers on how to handle emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks. This helps protect your domain from unauthorized use. Learn more about DMARC in MailChannels’ article Protect Your Business with DMARC: A Simple Guide.

• Firewall Rules: Confirm that your firewall permits outbound traffic on the SMTP ports used (587 or 465) to smtp.mailchannels.net.

• Regular Monitoring: Periodically check email delivery logs to promptly identify and address any issues.

By following these steps and considerations, Suite8 will utilize MailChannels as its SMTP smart host, improving the reliability and security of your hotel’s email communications.